Verbena×hybrida plant named ‘Arbena’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by its bicolor flower, red in the center of the flower towards pink on the edge, very early flowering and a spreading habit that is first semi-erect and later spreading.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Verbena×hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Arbena’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena, botanically known as Verbena×hybrida. The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘Y699’ and ‘A713’. ‘Y699’ is a scarlet flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘Y699’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘A713’ is a pink flowering Verbena having an erect habit. ‘A713’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘Y699’ or ‘A713’ has been patented. As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 1999 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed. ‘Arbena’ is closely related to the patented variety ‘Scarlena’, from which it differs in flowercolor and earliness.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the United States, only in zones 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 13 weeks old plants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Specification of differences with parents and most resembling variety Character ‘Arbena’ ‘Y699’ ‘A713’ ‘Scarlena’ Flowercolor bicolor, red to pink scarlet pink scarlet Earliness very early early late early Seedset no no much no Leafsize medium large medium medium

The Plant

-   Classification — Botanical: Verbena×hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘Y699’ is one of our             seedlings from our Y-generation of plants bred in 1995.         -   Pollen parent.—A seedling named ‘A713’ is one of our             seedlings from our A-generation of plants bred in 1997. -   Growth habit: Semi-erect, later spreading. -   Plant height: 12-15 cm. -   Spreading area of plant: 55-85 cm. -   Growth rate: Hanging and vigorous. -   Strength: Resistant to hot and cool wheather. -   Branching character: Freely branching and lateral branching at every     node. -   Blooming period: From April till November.

The Stem

-   Diameter: 2-2.5 mm. -   Shape: Tetragonal. -   Anthocyan pigmentation: Absent. -   Color of the stem: 141 B. -   Length of internode: 24-55 mm, depending on the light where the     plant is propagated. -   Pubescence: Pubescence is present.

The Foliage

-   Phyllotaxis: Opposite. -   Shape of blade: Broadly ovate. -   Texture:     -   -   Upper side.—Pubescent.         -   Lower side.—Pubescent. -   Venation: Pinnate. -   Leaf margin: Simple incised. -   Leaf base: Shortley attenuate. -   Leaf apex: Apiculate. -   Length: 25-40 mm. -   Width: 20-34 mm. -   Depth of incision: 2-3 mm. -   Color:     -   -   Upper side.—Dark green 137C.         -   Lower side.—Light green 138A. -   Pubescence: Some pubescence is present. -   Length of leaf stem: 5-10 mm. -   Petiole surface structure: Slightly pubescent.

The Bud

-   Peduncle length: 40-70 mm, depending on season. -   Size:     -   -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Length.—8-12 mm. -   Shape: Elongated and ovate. -   Color: Medium green 137D. -   Sepals:     -   -   Colour.—Light green 138B.         -   Form.—Upright.         -   Number.—5, fused.         -   Size.—5 mm.         -   Shape.—Elongated.

The Flower

-   Facing direction: Upward. -   Outward curvature of petal: Medium curved. -   Diameter: 18-20 mm. -   Height: 17-19 mm. -   Borne: In a cluster. -   Form: Salverform; sessile on terminal spikes. -   Cluster: Spike. -   Color:     -   -   Near center.—Red, N34B, a bit darker.         -   Towards edge.—Gradually going to Pink, 39B. -   Eye: Part of all petals is darker (N34A) at the bases. -   Overlapping of petals: Separate. -   No. of petals: Gamopetalous, 5lobed. -   Shape of the petals: Each petal is heart shaped at the apex and     grown together at the base. -   Petal margin: Entire. -   Petal surface texture: Smooth. -   Size of the petal:     -   -   Length.—6-9 mm.         -   Width.—6-8 mm. -   Spike:     -   -   Length.—20-40 mm.         -   Diameter.—40-50 mm. -   Calyx: Length of 8-11 mm. -   Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb: Absent. -   Color of the calyx: Dark green 137B. -   No. of flowers per spike: 25-35. -   Fragrance: No fragrance. -   Lastingness of the bloom: New florets continue to open in one spike     over a period of 14 days.

Reproductive Organs

-   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens quantity.—4.         -   Anther shape.—Ovoid.         -   Anther length.—1 mm.         -   Anther color.—144C.         -   Pollen amount.—Scarce pollen.         -   Pollen color.—145C. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistils quantity.—1.         -   Pistil length.—1.8 to 2.2 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Bi-lobed.         -   Stigma color.—144D.         -   Style length.—1.4 to 1.8 cm.         -   Style color.—144D.         -   Ovary color.—144C.

No seedset is observed.

Roots

-   Type of roots: Fibrous. Roots start to grow on every part of the     stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the nodes. -   Description of roots: Fibrous, fleshy and white. -   Rooting habit: Freely branching, dense. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat     and cold. Strong resistance to pests and diseases, particularly     powdery mildew. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by larger bicolor flowers than other Verbena plants, which are colored from red in the center towards pink on the edge, which appear earlier on the plant, and a growing habit that is first semi-erect but later spreading. 